This section of Meetinghouse Webcast documentation highlights official policies and directives that are directly and indirectly related to webcasting. It also provides additional webcast guidelines that align with Church policies.

Meetinghouse Webcasts should be managed under the direction of stake and area presidents. Meetinghouse Webcast should only be used for Church-sponsored meetings or events. Review the sections below for more information on roles, responsibilities, cost ownership, and usage guidelines.

Contents

Official Church communication

Additional general direction regarding use of cameras, recordings, and the use of technology can be found in Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010) Section 21.2.10.

Roles and responsibilities

Multiple people may be involved in supporting a successful webcast. The table below lists responsibilities of some of the key roles involved. There may be some variation in responsibilities based on local considerations.

Role

Responsibilities

Stake or Area President

Approve use of meetinghouse webcast for the stake (US and Canada) or area (outside US and Canada)

Provide first level technical support for questions related to meetinghouse webcasts

Available by phone at +1 (801) 240-4357

Available by e-mail at globalservicecenter@ldschurch.org

Budget and costs

The local unit pays for Meetinghouse Webcast components (examples: Webcast Communicator, video camera, cables, tripod) from local unit operating budget, or from other area funds as an area presidency may decide.

Standard meetinghouse items (such as video projector, portable projection screen, and draperies) are part of the meetinghouse standard configuration and should be purchased, installed, and inventoried by the facilities managers responsible for your meetinghouse as available budgets allow.

Usage guidelines

Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010) Section 21.2.10 states that meetings or events held in the chapel are to not be broadcast over the Internet with the exception of stake conference as outlined in Section 18.3.1 and with approval of the stake president. Webcasts should not be used to broadcast ordinances such as baptisms or the administration of the sacrament.

Meetinghouse Webcast is intended to broadcast events from one building to other buildings. Allowing others to view the webcasts from locations other than Church buildings should be done only when unusual circumstances exist and stake and area leaders deem it appropriate.

Recording

The policy on photography and video recording in chapels does not apply to streaming events, such as Stake Conference. It is acceptable to stream events using the Meetinghouse Webcast Communicator or Meetinghouse Webcast Software; however, Stake Technology Specialists should ensure that events originating in the chapel are not recorded. An event that includes participation from a General Authority should never be recorded. Some cameras have the capability to stream videos without recording, while others do not (see requirements for Meetinghouse Webcast cameras). All meetinghouse cameras must allow recording to be shut off.